Suspect charged in Reseda shootings that wounded man, LAPD officer

A Los Angeles police officer stands guard next to a semiautomatic handgun that was fired multiple times through the front windshield at officers in an LAPD SUV squad car in Reseda.

A Los Angeles police officer stands guard next to a semiautomatic handgun that was fired multiple times through the front windshield at officers in an LAPD SUV squad car in Reseda. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Kate Mather

A man accused of shooting an acquaintance in Reseda and then firing at police, injuring one officer, was charged Thursday with three counts of attempted murder, prosecutors said.

Cliff Gershowitz, 50, also was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said. He also faces allegations he personally discharged a handgun and caused great bodily injury.

Prosecutors said they plan to ask that Gershowitz's bail be set at just over $4 million. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. If convicted of the charges, they said, he faces up to life in state prison.

Gershowitz was convicted in 2005 of assault on a peace officer, prosecutors said.

Authorities allege that Gershowitz shot another man during an argument Monday morning in the 7100 block of Yolanda Avenue. Responding officers found the victim, who had been shot in the arm and leg, LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said.

Witnesses pointed police to a man running from the scene, Smith said, and officers began to pursue the suspect. The man was on Capps Avenue just north of Sherman Way when he stopped and fired multiple rounds at police, Smith said.

At least one of the rounds struck a patrol car, injuring an officer in the arm, Smith said. Gershowitz was taken into custody and a handgun recovered from the scene.

Officials later determined that the injured officer had been struck by shrapnel, LAPD Officer Bruce Borihanh said. He was treated at an area hospital and released later that day.

After the incident, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said on Twitter that he was "thankful" the wounded officer "will be okay."

"He is in good spirits," the chief wrote. "Please keep him in your thoughts as he recovers."

The condition of the first shooting victim was not known Thursday, though his injuries were described as not life threatening.